Air-compressing apparatus.



W. G. GEBHARD'P.

AIR GOMPEESSING APPARATUS.

W. O. GEBHARDT.

AIR GOMPRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR.8,1911. RENEWED AUG.19,1914.

1,1 32,331. Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

18 SEEETSSHEET 2.

W/ TNESSES:

W @zwww W. G. GEBHARDT. AIR GOMPRESSING APPARATUS.

W. C. GEBHAEDT.

AIR COMPRESSING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1911. RENEWED AUG.19, 1914.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

18 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IN VE/V TOR W/ T/VESSES:

THE NORRIS PETERS co PHOTO-LITHO'. WASHINUION. D

W. 0. GEBHARDT. AIR GOMPRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8,1911. RENEWED AUG. 19,1914.

1,132,331, Patented Mar.16,1915.

18 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

", C. GEBHARDT,

AIR GOMPRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION TILED MAR. 8. 1911.

RENEWED AUG. 19, 1914.

yatented Mar. 16, 1915.

ii 3 Qu 18 SHEBTS-SHEBT 6.

L c 7 i; 1 [44 1/21 W. G. GEBHARDT.

AIR GOMPRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. B, 1911. RENEWED AUG. 19, 1914.

Patented Mar. '16, 1915.

HU I I I I I IHUHF HI I LA L I II II 1B SHEETS-SHEET 7.

I I I l I l IHHH IH rHE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO LITHO.. WASHINGTON, b. c,

W. O. GEBHARDT.

AIR GOMPRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 19 11. RENEWED AUG. 19, 1914.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

W/ TIVESSES:

18 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

g r- I THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHO.v WASHINGTON, D. C.

W. 0. GEBHARDT. AIR GOMPRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 1911. RENEWED AUG. 19, 1914. 1 ,132,331.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

18 SHEETSSHEET 9.

WITNESSES.

' "ORR/5 PETFD m DHfiTO-LITHCL. WASHINGTON. D. c

W. G. GEBHARDT.

AIR commnssme APPARATUS.

APPLIOATiON FILED MAR. 8, 1911. RENEWED AUG. 19 1914.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

18 SHEETS'SHEET 10.

mm Q N N E A 35:@' R INVENTO/i I j HE MORE 5 PE ER Col. PHOTO-LITHO.. W H NGmN, D.

W. G. GEBHARDT.

AIR GOMPRESSING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 1911. RENEWED AUG. 19, 1914.

1,132,331, Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

18 SHBBTS'SHEET 11.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR Q QW W. 0. GEBHAEDT. AIR commsssme APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 1911. RENEWED AUG. 19, 1914. 1,132,331 Patented Mar.16,1915.

1B SHEETS-SHEET 12.

WI T/VESSES: l/Vl/EA/ TOR YHE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHING TON. D. C.

W. G. GEBHARDT.

AIR GOMPRESSING APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED MAE. a, 1911. RENEWED AUG. 19, 1914.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

18 SHEETSSHEET l3.

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WLG. GEBHARDT.

AIR GOMPEESSING APPARATUS, APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1911. RENEWED AUG. 19, 1914.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

18 SHEETS-SHEET 14.

w 1 1r I 1 W! TIVESSES:

THE NORRIS PETERS c0. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, D. C

W. O. GBBHARDT.

AIR GOMPRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MARB, 1911. RENEWED AUG. 19, 1914.

1,132,331. Patented Mar.16,1915.

18 SHEET3-SHEET 15.

WITNESSES: 1 IIVI/E/VTOI? A ,4 V 7%. 65 MA THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHING TON. Dv C W. G. GEBHARDT.

AIR GOMPRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1911. RENEWED AUG.19, 1914.

1,132,331. Patented Mar.16,1915.

1B SHEETS-SHEET 16.

[NI/ENTOR @2414 6M My THE NORRIS PETERS ca, PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON 0. c.

W. U. GEBHARDT.

AIR COMPRESSING APPARATUS. v

APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1911. RENEWED AUG. 19, 1914 Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

18 SHEETS-SHEET 17.

ZZZL

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTOJJTHO, V/ASHINGTON, D. C

W. C. GEBHARDT.

AIR COMPRESSING'APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1911. RENEWED AUG.19, 1914. l 1 32,33 1

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

18 SHEETS-SHEET 18.

WITNESSES:

THh NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO'LITHO WASHING roN. D. c.

ion .a G,

WILLIAM CHARLES GEBHARDT, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

AIR-GOMPRESSING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

Application filed March 8, 1911, Serial No. 613,994. Renewed August 19, 1914. Serial No. 857,609.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM GHAnLns Gnnrninnr, a citizen of the United States, residing in San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Compressing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for compressing and storing air for use in air motors of various kinds, and in other apparatus where the use of compressed air is desirable. I

According to this invention I employ two kinds of tanks, reservoirs or containers, one kind being called high pressure containers and the other low pressure containers. Preferably I employ a relatively large low pressure container which is directly connected with another low pressure container which 1 call the intermediate container and I preferably employ two high pressure containers. The number of the various kinds of containers or reservoirs may, however, be varied.

The containers are at first charged with compressed air by means of an air compressing engine driven in any suitable way as by steam, gas or electricity. Preferably the low pressure containers are charged with a pressure of 190 pounds per square inch, and the high pressure containers with a pressure of 310 pounds per square inch.

The apparatus comprises air operated driving engines which actuate the, compressors that deliver compressed air to the low pressure containers, and which are operated by compressed air from the high pressure containers; and another set of compressors, which I call compounders, which are driven by said driving engines and take the air from the low pressure containers compress it and deliver it to the high pressure containers which, as before stated, supply air for actuating the driving engines. The driving engines operate driving shafts which in turn actuate the first set of compressors and also the second set of compressors or compounders. Any desired number of engines, compressors and compounders may be employed.

In starting the apparatus the compounders are at first disconnected and the engines are operated to give the heavy flywheels which the apparatus contains a high speed and then the compounders are connected and by forcing compressed air into the high pressure container they serve to prolong the time of service of such containers in operating the engines.

My invention involves not only the organization of apparatus above spccified,but also novel means for cooling and lubricating various parts of the apparatus, improved devices for regulating the passage of air through the system, and many details of construction which will be hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing my improved air compressing and storing apparatus and illustrating the apparatus which charges it with compressed air initially, and also an engine which may be connected with my air compressing and storing apparatus and driven thereby. Fig.-

.2 shows a side elevation of my apparatus for compressing and storing compressed air. Fig. 2 is a detail viewon an enlarged scale of certain devices employed for controlling the mechanism for cooling the air compressore and driving engines. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one end of the apparatus. Figs. 4:, 4 and ,5, 5 are on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 shows a side elevation of one end of the apparatus; and Fig. 4 shows a side elevation of the opposite end thereof. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one end of the apparatus;

and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the opposite end thereof. Fig. 6 is a view .on an enlarged scale partly in section and partly in side elevation showing particularly certain features of the compounders at one end of the apparatus. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the compounders at the opposite end of the apparatus. Fig. ,7 shows a transverse section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail view partly in section showing certain features of the cooling and lubricating devices employed in the compressors. detail sectional view showing certain parts of the compounders. Fig. '8 shows a trans- Fig. 7 is a verse section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 shows a transverse section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a similar view on the line 10-40 of Fig. 5, one side of the engine. however, being shown in elevation. Fig. ll shows longitudinal section through one of the air compressors. Fig. 12 is a detail view on an enlarged scale and in section showing particularly the construction of one of the automatic air valves employed in the air con'ipressors. Fig. 1% shows a transverse section on the line l2 --l2 of Fig. 12. Fig. 13 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing the connection between a high pressure cylinder and an engine which drives an air compressor and illustrates particularly the construction of the throttle valve interposed in this connection. Fig. 1 1- is a detail view in perspective of one of the throttle valves. Fig. 15 is a detail view in perspective of the devices for regulating the flow of air to the compounders. Fig. 16 is a detail view on an enlarged scale and in section illustrating certain features of the compounders. Fig. 17 is a per spective view, with certain parts separated, of the kind of piston preferably employed in the compounders and compressors. Fig. 18 is a detail view in section of one of the air strainers and valves for admitting air to the compressors. Fig. 19 is a detail view partly in side elevation and partly in section illustrating the preferred way of connecting certain valve rods and piston rods with the eccentrics which operate th m. Fig. 20

shows a transverse section on the line 202O of Fig. 19. 21 is a detail view of a form of pipe coupling or rod coupling which I preferably employ. Fig. 22 is a detail view of a coupling which may be employed for two pipes arranged at right angles to each other. Fig. 23 is a detail view of a coupling for four pipes. Fig. 24 illustrates how my improvements maybe applied to a locomotive boiler.

In Fig. 1 l have shown diagrammatically my improved air compressing and storing apparatus A in connection with an engine B for charging it and with an engine C which can be driven by compressed air taken from the apparatus A.

The charging engine B may be of any desired kind, as shown, it comprises a steam engine 6, the piston rod Z) of which is connected with a cross-head b in turn connected with a fly-wheel 5 connected through a cross-head Zr with an air compressor 6 A water tank 6, similar to those hereinafter described, is preferably employed to supply cooling fluid to the compressor, and this supply is regulated by the devices 6 similar to those used in other parts of the apparatus and hereinafter described.

The air compressing and storing apparatus A is only shown in outline, X indicating the low pressure air container, Y the high pressure containers, and Z the cylinders of the driving engine. A pipe 6.; leads from the charging compressor to the low pressure container X and a branch pipe (4. I

leads from the pipe (1, to one of the high pres sure containers Y, which latter is connecter. to the other high pressure container by a pipe y. Valves a m a are provided in the pipes at, a at the points indicated.

The engine C is of a common type and need not be described in detail. it is connected to the low pressure container X by a pipe 0.

By means of the compressing engine B the containers X and Y are at first all charged with compressed air at a pressure preferably of 190 pounds to the square inch. As soon as this is done, the valve (4. and also preferably the valve a is closed and the com pressing engine B is operated until the pressure in the high pressure container reaches about 320 or pounds per square inch. 1 would here state that a pressure of 310 pounds per square inch is used in the high pressure containers, but 1 preferably obtain a slightly greater pressure at first for a purpose hereinafter described. As soon as these desired pressures are obtained in the low pressure and high pressure containers, the compressing engine B can be disconnected and only used again when it is necessary to recharge the containers.

The apparatus A comprises in addition to the high and low pressure containers, above mentioned, engines for driving the air compressors which deliver to the low pressure containers and other compressors or compounders which deliver compressed air to the high pressure containers.

The engines for driving the compressors and compounders are indicated at Z, the compressors at D, and the compounders at E. At F isindicated what I call an intermediate or auxiliary container which is con-- nected with the low pressure container X by the pipe :0 having a valve 00. This intermediate container really forms a part of the low pressure container. It is connected therewith and it is also connected in the manner hereinafter described with the air compressors 1), (see F ig. 7).

The apparatus A is mounted on a bed plate 1, supported on a substantial foundation 2.

in the apparatus shown there are four driving engines and four corresponding air compressors driven by said engines, there being two sets of driving engines and compressors on each side of the apparatus, and there are also four compounders F, two at one end of the middle portion of the apparatus and two at the opposite end thereof.

Each driving engine Z is connected by a rod 2, with a cross-head 3 in turn connected 

